Eldership

Interview with Bill and Mike Buher

Bill Buher and his wife, Mary, raised their two sons in an a cappella church of Christ in southern Indiana and then, a few years ago, transferred membership to Sherwood Oaks Christian Church in Bloomington. Bill was called to serve as an elder at Sherwood Oaks and was one proud dad when his son Mike was similarly called to serve at Mountain Christian Church in Joppa, Maryland. Bill, retired for about 10 years, finds plenty of ways to keep busy serving Christ. Mike is an audit partner for Grant Thornton, an international accounting firm. Did you grow up in the

March 28, 2010

Building Bonds Between Elders and Ministers (Part 2)

By Bob Russell In 1965, Butch Dabney served as chairman of the pulpit committee for the newly established Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. A few months before I was asked to preach a trial sermon, Butch approached the president of Cincinnati Bible Seminary and asked for the names of young preachers who had the potential to grow with the church. Butch said, “We want to hire a young man and we”re going to make him successful.” That phrase describes the attitude elders should have toward their preacher: one of their primary functions is to help make the preacher successful.

March 21, 2010

Building Bonds Between Elders and Ministers (Part 1)

By Bob Russell One of the most intense topics in church leadership seminars these days is elder/preacher relationships. One minister said, “In our church I get the impression that it”s the preacher”s job to cast vision and the elder”s job to prevent it from happening.” But it”s not always the elders who are to blame for conflicts with the minister. Many times the problem lies with a preacher or staff member who is lazy, unethical, controlling, defiant, or spiritually immature. I”ve observed four ministries recently that looked impressive from the outside, but suddenly the preacher was asked to resign. People

October 25, 2009

We Lead by Serving: A Band of Servants

Â by Darryl Bolen In this article, Darryl Bolen, senior minister with First Christian Church, Greeneville, Illinois, discusses his ministry. Read the companion article written by Ronald G. Cook, an elder with the church. Â Â Â Â At the conclusion of his career, prematurely ended by a debilitating disease, baseball legend Lou Gehrig spoke to a packed Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939. He said, “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.”1 Overlooking

October 25, 2009

We Lead by Serving: Called to Be Shepherds, Not Cowboys

Â by Ronald G. Cook In this article, Ronald G. Cook, an elderÂ with First Christian Church, Greeneville, Illinois, discusses his ministry. Read the companion article written by Darryl Bolen, senior minister withÂ the church. Â Â Remember watching those old westerns when you were a kid? Now think, how did those cowboys move cattle from point A to point B? They had a cattle drive! Cowboys rode behind and to the side of the herd, hollering and shooting their guns in the air, anything to get the cattle headed in the right direction. Granted, at night when the drive had reached

February 8, 2009

Gary L. Johnson

How Our Church Uses Elder Governance

Gary L. Johnson describes how Elder Governance helped The Creek create a healthier church structure by focusing elders on policy, pastoral care, doctrine, and prayer.

February 8, 2009

Randy Nation

Why I No Longer Dread Elder Meetings

Randy Nation explains how Policy Governance helped Woodford Community Christian Church clarify elder responsibilities, empower staff leadership, and refocus the eldership on shepherding the congregation.

December 23, 2008

Mark A. Taylor

A Picture of the Elders in Our Churches, Part Two

Readers responding to Christian Standard’s Year of the Elder survey highlighted ongoing needs for elders, including conflict management, stronger shepherding, and more intentional training.

December 21, 2008

Eric Stevens

Wanted: Good Men for a Fine Work (Part 2)

Eric Stevens examines the public and congregational qualities of elders, showing how mature leaders demonstrate integrity, hospitality, teaching ability, and faithful stewardship in the church.

December 14, 2008

Eric Stevens

Wanted: Good Men for a Fine Work (Part 1)

Eric Stevens explains why eldership is a “fine work” and why Paul’s qualifications describe spiritually mature leaders whose character is evident in personal and family life.

December 10, 2008

Mark A. Taylor

A Picture of the Elders in Our Churches, Part One: posted 12/10/2008

Mark A. Taylor reports results from Christian Standard’s Elders Survey, highlighting how churches select elders, how often elders meet, and the continuing need for shepherding support.

November 16, 2008

Two Elders Now Ministers Talk About Elder-Minister Relationships

Ernie Graf and Jim Sloderbeck reflect on elder-minister relationships from both sides of church leadership, emphasizing mutual respect, trust, communication, and unity.

November 16, 2008

What Elders Don’t Understand About Ministers

Church leaders reflect on what elders may not understand about ministers, including workload pressures, family strain, leadership empowerment, and the high personal stakes of ministry.

November 16, 2008

What Ministers Don’t Understand About Elders

Elders share what ministers may misunderstand about their role, outside pressures, meeting participation, and desire for honest partnership in church leadership.

November 16, 2008

Elders & Ministers: Speaking the Same Language

Healthy elder-minister relationships help churches lead with trust, humility, shared vision, and spiritual focus. Darrel Rowland highlights growing churches where leaders work together well.

November 16, 2008

Eldership Church Leadership

Should the Minister Be One of the Elders?

Darrel Rowland explores whether ministers should serve as elders, highlighting church leaders who value trust, accountability, biblical eldership, and healthy elder-minister relationships.

November 2, 2008

Scott Cromer

A New Leadership Model as Old as the New Testament

Scott Cromer shares how New Life Church of Christ shifted from board-style leadership to a shepherding model focused on relationships, delegation, empowered leaders, and shared life.

November 2, 2008

Robert Kitchen

The Knife Wasn’t Even Sharp (A Parable for Elders)

Robert Kitchen encourages elders to focus on shepherding, mentoring, and teaching while equipping volunteers with clear expectations, useful tools, and meaningful opportunities for service.

October 22, 2008

Mark A. Taylor

Could We Have Been Better Prepared?

Mark A. Taylor reflects on Hurricane Ike’s power outage and urges elders to prepare for church crises with accountability, character, prayer, and wise shepherding.

October 19, 2008

Chuck Sackett